TAT Phuket calls for tackling of beach encroachment

PHUKET, 14 June 2013 (NNT) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) office in Phuket is targeting to expand the number of visitors to the province by 20% this year, while saying that strict enforcement of the law is required against private businesses and individuals who encroach on beaches.

Chanchai Duangchit, director of the TAT Phuket office, said that an average of 11 million foreign visitors arrive in Phuket per year at present. These tourists contribute to the generation of 200 billion baht in economic circulation in the province. Chinese tourists currently make up the biggest group of visitors, followed by those from Russia, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Mr. Chanchai indicates that with an exponential growth in the number of visitors, the problems of trash, waste water and degradation of the environment follow. This has led to the tourism authority’s objective of focusing, for its 2014 goal, on the quality of the visitors rather than their quantity. If this goal is accomplished, more income will be generated per visitor. At present, 80% of visitors to Phuket are foreign tourists who spend on average 6,000 baht per day over an average stay of 5 days, whereas 20% of visitors are Thai nationals who spend an average of 2,600 baht per day over an average stay of 2.7 days.

For the current year, the TAT projects a growth of 18-20% in the number of visitors.